Selectmen's Meeting 

Room 34, Town Hall 

Time of Meeting: 6:00 P.M. 

December 18, 2014 

Meeting is Recorded 

A special meeting of the Board of Selectmen convened at 6 p.m. on Thursday, December 18, 2014 in 

Room 34, the Harry B. Butters Chambers, Norwood Memorial Municipal Building, with the Pledge of 

Allegiance, and a silent moment of prayer and reflection. Meeting is recorded. 

Present: Chairman Michael J. Lyons, Selectmen William J. Plasko, Helen Abdallah Donohue, Paul A. 

Bishop and Allan D. Howard. Also present General Manager John J. Carroll, Clerk Frances L. Jessoe and 

Assistant Christina K. Mulvehill and Town Counsel Kevin Bresnahan and Mr. Oulten A. Hues. 

Agenda 

Executive/Open Session 

Call to Order 

Chairman Lyons called the meeting to order at 6 p.m. and announced that the meeting is being recorded 

and archived. Chairman Lyons stated that the meeting is being held in open session at the request of Mr. 

Hues to discuss the reputation, character, physical condition or mental health, rather than professional 

competence, of an individual, or to discuss the discipline or dismissal of, or complaints or charges 

brought against, a public officer, employee, staff member or individual. Chairman Lyons said the 

meeting was called for because the Board of Selectmen became aware of an incident that took place 

during an Airport Commission Meeting on November 25 and was brought to the Board of Selectmen's 

attention by an e-mail from Mr. Hues. The Board of Selectmen then requested to get narratives from all 

members present having collected the narratives, the Board decided the best course of action would be to 

have Mr. Hues in to explain his position and his actions during that particular meeting. Chairman Lyons 

said what this hearing is for is to discuss the incident that took place on November 25th specifically and 

we are not here to discuss anything else. Chairman Lyons informed Mr. Hues that he is free to make a 

statement in regards to the incident that took place; he is free to defend himself and call witnesses to that 

effect, but this is not about past history, not about his issues with the Airport Commission per say, the 

Board of Selectmen, the Town in general and Town Counsel. Chairman Lyons stated that we are going to 

focus on and be very specific about the incident of November 25th. Chairman Lyons inquired of Mr. Hues 

if he would like to make a statement. 

Mr. Hues said that he has a question first. Mr. Hues inquired if Mr. Moss (Town Counsel) had spoken to 

Massachusetts Aeronautics' Commission and Mass. DOT about this meeting. Chairman Lyons said he is 

not aware. Mr. Hues inquired if anyone else had. Chairman Lyons said that he is not aware 

Mr. Hues said he would like to say that he was sorry for some of the language that he used during 

Executive Session meeting and he would like to at some point apologize to Ms. Reddick and he is sorry 

for saying to Mr. Ryan that he was a "piece of shit", but as far as some of his other choice languages to 

Mr. Ryan they are going to stand. Mr. Hues said that some of the reasoning for this is because he is 

frustrated and angry because of the level of dysfunction of the Norwood Airport. He said this is a direct 

quote from the director of the airports division of the FAA as to the dysfunction of the airport. Chairman 

Lyons inquired if he had anything else to say. Mr. Hues did not. 

Chairman Lyons said that the Board has collected narratives from everyone who was present and most 

everybody submitted their view, their recollection of what happened that particular meeting. It is up to 

this Board to decide if his behavior, his language and what has been described as a threatening attitude 

rises to the level of action by this Board. 

Chairman Lyons inquired any questions from the Board. 

Selectman Plasko said that Mr. Hues is done with his statement and doesn't have any response to any of 

thee-mails. Selectman Plasko said that he believed that Mr. Hues had been given a full packet. Mr. Hues 

stated yes that he noted a couple of discrepancies between them and he would say that Mr. Ryan's is 

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Selectmen's Meeting December 18, 2014 

probably the most accurate account and that basically the discrepancies between were whether he was 

sitting or standing or what not but as far as the language it is pretty accurate. Chairman Lyons said that he 

has admitted to using the language to the press as it was in the paper. Mr. Hues nodded in the affirmative. 

Chairman Lyons inquired if there were any questions from the Board. 

Selectman Howard inquired of Mr. Hues if he felt that this type of language in a committee meeting is 

proper. Mr. Hues responded "no, no it's not" . 

Selectman Plasko stated that he has been considering this whole situation and all the comments the Board 

has received and have prepared a statement and he hoped that there would be more back and forth and 

information that would become available this evening and he wouldn't have to read it but since nothing 

further seems to be occurring to shed any light differently on events, he will read his comments with the 

Chair's permission. Chairman Lyons agreed. 

Selectmen Plasko read as follows: "I have been involved in our local government for over 42 years, I 

have served 27 of them in town wide elected office and I have been on so many special committees, I 

have lost count. I would not even guess at how many thousands of votes I have participated in. It is only 

natural that in hindsight you are going to have some regrets. One of my regrets as a member of this Board 

in trying to address rumbling of complaints from a few about airport operations by voting to expand the 

commission without giving more attention to determining the validity of the complaints and more 

consideration as to the best way to address any that were found to be of merit. One of the most 

disappointing actions I've participated in was to make new appointments without knowing anything about 

the applicants that were appointed, without vetting their backgrounds and personalities. Unintentional for 

sure, I believe we contributed to the current dysfunction that is occurring on the Airport Commission. It 

is time for us to stop the inappropriate behavior and dysfunction, to restore the public confidence and 

respect. It is also our responsibility to do all we can to assure our employees and citizen volunteers have 

a collegial work environment in which the individuals are treated with respect and dignity. We must 

maintain an ethical and professional work environment. No one should be allowed to engage in behaviors 

that are harassing, including offensive comments. No member of a Town board should be allowed to 

make disparaging or misleading statements that misrepresent the Town or Town employee. We recently 

had another incident, I had hoped that with time and experience Mr. Hues would gain maturity and 

knowledge of how to conduct himself as an Airport Commissioner. This unfortunately, in my opinion, 

has not occurred and the situation has perhaps worsened. With all the information available concentrating 

on the events of the November 25, 2014 Airport Commission Meeting, it is my opinion that Mr. Hues has 

not conducted _himself in his official relations with the public and with his fellow commissioners and 

employees and in particular the Airport Manager, Assistant Manager and recording secretary of the 

Airport Commission in a manner which enhances public respect and confidence in the Airport 

Commission and particularly in the Town of Norwood in general. His dangerous, aggressive and quick 

angry behavior is intimidating and offensive to others and is not suitable behavior for someone serving as 

a representative of the Town of Norwood. Therefore, I move that Mr. Oulten Hues be removed from his 

position on the Airport Commission effective immediately and that the membership of the Airport 

Commission be reduced from nine to seven members." Selectman Howard seconded Selectman Plasko's 

motion. 

Selectman Bishop stated to Mr. Hues that he was the person that put his name into nomination as well as 

several other names hoping that if there was dysfunction at the airport that hopefully with putting other 

new faces on there especially people with aeronautic experience would help send it in a different 

direction, but it seems to have gone in the totally opposite direction that he wanted to see it go. He said 

that no one has the right to be violent in the work place, be intimidating and to say the words that he said 

and he felt that his nature is that way, in his personal opinion, so he is not happy that he put his name into 

nomination and he has explained it to his colleagues and he has apologized so he wished that it would 

have worked out, but it won't work out. 

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Selectmen's Meeting December 18,2014 

Selectman Donohue inquired if Selectman Plasko would be willing to separate the motion and not reduce 

the size of the Airport Commission. Selectman Plasko said no, he said that was part of the Board's 

mistake, he felt it would be an effective number; we have one vacancy now and if the motion passes, we 

will have two and this puts the Commission at 7 and he felt that this would be an appropriate place to 

leave it at this time. 

Chairman Lyons asked all in favor/all opposed on the motion. The motion was passed unanimously. 

Adjournment 

Selectman Donohue inquired if there was any further business. Seeing none, on motion of Selectman 

Donohue, seconded by Selectman Howard, voted to adjourn and the meeting was adjourned accordingly 

at 6:09p.m. 

A True Record. ATTEST: ___ _______ _ 

Clerk 

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